Smartmatic and Total Information Management (TIM) Deal

By Romy Teruel

All is well that ends well? It should be but not yet in the case of Smartmatic and Total Information Management (TIM) deal.  While they have ironed out disagreements and vowed to deliver the automation machines for the 2010 elections, it is only the beginning of the whole process and not the end of it.  Therefore it cannot yet be described as an end ending well. 

Nevertheless hope is there again for poll reforms that will give us leaders who were really elected by the voters and not leaders who, although proclaimed as elected, carried with them charges of poll cheating if not manipulation of election results. 

For years we only dreamed of having election winners who were voted by the people without being accused of having cheated or manipulated election results. The bidding for the supply of poll automation machines was what everybody hoped would give them just that. When the award was made to Smartmatic-TIM, almost everybody heaved a sigh of relief.  But the last sigh of relief was cut short by the reported withdrawal of TIM from their partnership with Smartmatic for undisclosed differences. 

This sparked speculations about efforts to derail and sabotage the automation so that cheaters can continue to ply their trade during the next elections.  It also fuelled the possibility of no elections for lack of funds to revert to manual counting of votes.  Remember most of the funds was earmarked for the poll automation and a return to manual counting will need another act of Congress to appropriate funds for printing of ballots and other election paraphernalia.   

When things go awry, a lot of speculations come to mind that could further erode the processes and put to question the results.  Like how could a project estimated to cost P11.2 billion by Comelec itself be completed at a cost of P7.5 billion as was the bid of Smartmatic-TIM?  That's almost P4 billion short of the estimate.   

Two questions come to mind.  Did Comelec bloat its estimate to allow for kickback? Or did the winning bidder purposely underbid so that sub-standard supply that will allow room for manipulation of results despite automation can be delivered?  These speculations cannot be avoided considering our history of scams in government deals. 

We will never know for sure. What is important now is that the deal will push through after Smartmatic and TIM settled their differences within the deadline given by Comelec.  What the public can do now is be more vigilant to protect the only proof of true democracy – people freely electing and installing their leaders. 

If that is the last thing that we can do to preserve true democracy, then by all means let us do it.  Let us not allow CON-ASS a chance to change the Constitution by allowing poll automation to fail. 

Let us not allow the possibility of no election to materialize because the good people did nothing to prevent evil to triumph. Let everybody participate in ensuring that all is well that ends well.   

Nonito Donaire and Bernabe Concepcion in Pinoy Power 2

Promoter Bob Arum, a Hall of Famer, is showcasing Filipino boxers when Nonito Donaire and Bernabe Concepcion take on touted rivals on Aug. 15 at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas.

The main event will see Donaire against Rafael Concepcion of Panama for the interim World Boxing Association (WBA) super-flyweight crown.  The event is dubbed "Pinoy Power 2".

Arum, whose promotional outfit Top Rank will stage the slambang show.

Top Rank publicist Ricardo Jimenez said Filipino puncher-super-lightweight prospect Mark Jason Melligen of the Antonio L. Aldeguer Stable of Cebu will see action in the undercard.

Arum had described Melligen, formerly an amateur standout, as a "terrific fighter" following his smashing performance two weeks ago in Ensenada, Mexico.

Arum has had a taste of the Filipino boxers' furious fists with Manny Pacquiao as his flagship fighter but is likewise enthralled with the arrival of new blood in Donaire, Concepcion, Melligen and Brian Viloria.

TAGBILARAN'S ADOPTED SON

VS MEXICAN KO ARTIST

Rising ALA Stable star Mark Jason Melligen has impressively won all his three fights in the United States this year.

Melligen deserved to be given due credit for that, but the Bacolod City-native punching dynamo should face the reality that he is yet to hurdle an acid test to prove his true value in the lucrative US boxing market.

And that would be against the Mexican power-hitter Michel "El Bravo" Rosales when they collide in the undercard of the interim WBA super flyweight championship bout between Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire and Panamian Rafael "El Torito" Concepcion on August 15 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

While Melligen wields a shining credential he further spotlighted by planting a blackey on the comebacking former pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather during a sparring session, Rosales poses as a danger zone in his road to glory.

Towering at 5-foot-11, the 26-year-old Rosales is a certified knockout artist having sent 21 of his 24 foes into the dreamland.

However, there is one thing that would be of Melligen's delight.  Rosales seems to be a reckless ring tiger as he suffered all his three defeats also vis stoppage.

Rosales absorbed his previous setback at the hands of Saul Alvarez via 10th round TKO last April 11 Gimnasio Niños Heroes in Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico.  Two months later, Rosales bounced back with fire in his eyes, eking out a majority decision victory over Luis Fernando Uribe to snatch the WBC FECOMBOX light middleweight title.

The other factors that will likely confront the 23-year-old Melligen is that Rosales is four inches taller than him, bigger and heavier.

But in an earlier interview a day after his arrival from the US last week, Melligen, bold and daring as ever, said he doesn't care who is his next opponent so long as he has proper training and conditioning.  In fact, he is even willing to challenge Mayweather if opportunity permits.

Above all, Melligen also possesses sledgehammer fists having flattened 11 of his 15 victims, the latest was a stunning second round KO OF Fabian Luque two days ago at the Gimnasio Oscar "Tigre" Garcia in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico.

That too is something that should be a cause of worry for Rosales.

Milo Marathon in Cebu and Manila, Philippines

Over 40,000 participants are expected in the 33rd National Milo Marathon as the nationwide search for the country's top long-distance runners resumes today.

Elimination legs will simul-taneously hit Cebu City and Metro Manila.

Pat Goc Ong, the AVP for Milo sports, said he expects the legs to attract over 40,000 runners combined in Cebu and Manila.

The qualifying time for Cebu and the other provincial legs, which are run at a distance of 21 km, is one hour and 15 minutes for men and one hour and 35 minutes for women.

The Metro Manila elimination, on the other hand, is a full 42.195-kilometer marathon and will have a qualifying time of four hours for men and fours and 30 minutes for women.

The qualifiers will then advance to the 42-km national finals on Oct. 11 at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila.

Milo marathon national race organizer Rudy Boscocho announced that cut-off time for the 42-km qualifying run in Manila is five hours while cut-off time for the 21-km provincial qualifying race is two hours and thirty minutes.

Also scheduled on Sunday are the side events such as the 3-km kiddie run, 5-km fun run, 10-km race and the interschool cheerdance competition.  In Metro Manila, the 21-km half marathon has also been added.

A total cash purse of P240,000 is at stake in Cebu City while P590,000 shall be given away to the winners in Metro Manila, including P30,000 each to the top male and female 42K finisher.

There will also be an interschool team running competition and the biggest delegation competition in both legs.

The 33rd National Milo Marathon started with races held in Subic and Dipolog on February 8; Iligan and Batangas on February 15; and General Santos and Palawan on February 22.

After this Sunday's races, the country's biggest and longest running marathon held in partnership with Bayview Park Hotel-Manila and the Department of Tourism holds weekly events in Davao and Tarlac on July 12; Butuan and Santiago City on July 19; Cagayan de Oro and Laoag on July 26; Tacloban and San Fernando, La Union on August 2; Tagbilaran and Baguio on August 9; Roxas City and Dagupan on August 9; Roxas City and Dagupan on August 16; Iloilo and Legaspi on August 23; Bacolod and Naga on August 30; and Dumaguete and San Pablo on September 6.

Registration in Metro Manila ends on June 30.

Philippine Presidential Election: A Perspective

By Bingo P. Dejaresco III

Political scientists engaged for the 2010 presidential polls must take cognizance of four factors: (1) surveys (2) voter segmentation (3) imagery of candidates and (4) media coverage.

Surveys from Social Weather Station and the Pulse Asia are reliable - but at best they are just snapshots of political reality at a certain limited period of time. As we earlier said - one month in a presidential campaign can change history.

In January 2004, for instance, SWS survey placed GMA (28.7%) and FPJ (37.5%). A month later (February 2004), the Pulse Asia showed GMA (31.9%) breathing down the neck of FPJ (31.7%) when the issues of the latter's citizenship and illegitimate child took center stage. That close battle ensued until the May 2004 actual polling.

Surveys from these two credible entities are barometers to be heeded and plans adjusted to - they are not for sale in order to set trends.

On the other hand, voter segmentation is crucial in determining the direction of scant resources of candidates. For instance, the vocal and visible segment of the A-B-C market does not speak for the nation as they comprise only 18% of the voter's percentage. The E market - poorest segment - is another 18% of total but this is the voter bloc that is most easily swayed by money, threats and herding.

The largest remaining and most significant is the D Market - the upper poor - which is 60% of the market. This market segment, according to Senator Raul Roco's handlers, is made up of two kinds: the "struggling poor" and the "resigned poor". It is believed that the "struggling poor" can still be the object of successful "persuasion" or campaigning.

Bear in mind, likewise, that 60% of the age profile of the voters is comprised of people below 30 years old, of which 100% of the new voter registrants will fall under. Many progressive thinkers view this bloc as idealistic and open to reforms.

The third factor of "imagery" is very crucial as well. Pundits believed that Miriam Santiago's "dragon lady" image in 1992 nearly cost FVR the presidency (if not, some say, for the Sulo Hotel Operation). In 1998, the Erap "pro-poor" image won him 40% of the votes, the single biggest presidential vote percentage from 1986-2004. Erap's image beat the incumbent's candidate Jose de Venecia (blessed by so-called network) and the money of Danding Cojuangco.

Many political pundits still believe FPJ's "masa" image actually "won" but lost out to "Garci et.al" in that 2004 elections.

The image-builders in the 2004 election had their hands full since it featured extremely popular political titans: GMA and FPJ.

 Cerge Remonde featured GMA as a "smart, intelligent and telegenic" multi-lingual pedigreed candidate who knows her economics. Rod Reyes of FPJ tried to downplay the latter's lack of education and experience in public office by presenting the movie actor as a "folk hero" - a non traditional politician who has picked his lessons from the downfall of his pal Erap.

Lito Banayo of Ping Lacson's camp tried very hard to sidetrack the Martial Law image of Lacson into one of an Iron Hand but to signify strong "political will" to make things happen. Yolanda Ong, on the other hand, packaged Raul Roco as an advocate rather than a pure candidate. The campaign used much of the "text brigade" and "internet campaign" long before American president-elect Obama converted it into the state of the art. They obviously targeted the ABC market segments (18%).

Finally, media coverage did matter. Either media were playing favorites in 2004 or their coverage merely reflected what was "good copy" and therefore attracted readers, listeners or viewers for newspapers, radio and television respectively. Let's take a look at a one month sample below (March 2004)

For both TV and print news headliners FPJ got the best coverage (105 articles-news coverage) followed closely by GMA (101); Lacson had (62) and Roco (54). Unerringly, the results of the 2004 election also resulted in almost the same order as above except that GMA "won" over FPJ.

But being written about in newspapers (Inquirer, Star and Bulletin) is not always good for candidates. All the four leading candidates got almost identical number of page one articles: Roco (25), FPJ (23), GMA (21) and Lacson (20).

However, independent observers recognized that 76 of these articles were slanted and 93 were judged neutral; 54 were negative articles and only 44 positive articles for the above candidates.

In that month, over 50% of the front page articles of the Inquirer, Star and Bulletin were political in nature or 173 of the 312 articles with Bulletin leading the ratio with 71 political articles of the 109 total; Inquirer 53 of 134 and Star 48 out of the 96.

Television, which is now considered the most powerful political medium, was also politically colored. In February 2004, the following had political stories in the news: ABS-CBN's TV Patrol (20.11%), Insider (40.27%); GMA's Saksi (34.21%) and Frontpage (22.19%)' Studio 23 (25.13%) and ANC's The World Tonight (41.9%).

Only the sinking of the Super Ferry in March (following month) slowed down the percentage coverage of politics in these TV stations.

These four factors are as crucial today going to the presidential polls in 2010 as they were in the year 2004. None of them have lost relative significance.

They are factors worth pondering even this early. - source: Bohol Chronicle

Swine Flu Cases in the Philippines

Instead, the Department of Health (DoH) called for "responsible self-monitoring," saying: "Travelers shall monitor [themselves] for 10 days after arrival, observe for signs and symptoms of influenza-like illness and submit to DoH national guidelines if [these symptoms develop]."

Nearly two months since it went on overdrive to address the entry of the Influenza A(H1N1) virus, the DoH has begun to ease up on control measures against what it described as a generally mild flu strain.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III announced in a memorandum dated June 24 "major policy changes from containment to mitigation response to the Influenza A(H1N1) outbreak in the country."

Under the new Interim Guideline No. 16, travelers arriving from countries with reported A(H1N1) cases no longer have to observe home quarantine before they return to their schools or workplaces.

The DoH had previously recommended home quarantine of up to 10 days for all newly arrived travelers regardless of whether they had flu-like symptoms or not.

As of Friday, the DoH had confirmed 861 flu cases. Of the number, 634 or 74 percent have recovered.

According to the DoH, an A(H1N1) patient usually recovers within a week.

Also under its new guidelines, the DoH:

Lifted mandatory hospital confinement for all confirmed and suspected cases.

For those with flu symptoms, the DoH recommended "voluntary home confinement in general."

Stopped giving the antiflu drug Oseltamivir to all suspected and confirmed cases.

It said antiviral treatment would be limited to confirmed cases with "severe or progressive illness, or preexisting illness that compromises immune and pulmonary system."

Announced that the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) would no longer test all suspected cases.

It said the RITM would only do "selective testing" on high-risk individuals, those who arrive with flu-like symptoms at international airports and seaports, and the first suspected cases in a particular community.

Bohol Politics: The Balimbing Mayors

By Joe Espiritu

Sunday Post

Recently a group of Bohol politicians joined the Nacionalista Party. To make their affiliation official they took oath as party members. Then a few days after, they returned to their old party, which was the Lakas – Kampi – CMD. This could only mean one thing; there is no local party machinery.

 If there was a strong party organization, the organization executives would either prevent the fence jumping or impose sanctions on turncoats. Since there is none, any local politician could just join a party of their choice, not the other way around. As of this time, any local political aspirant with a sizable war chest could run under any party banner as long as there is a slot. Those who have not will look for a party that will provide them logistics.

 In the present set up, party organization comes in three levels; national, provincial and local. Those running for national and provincial positions have to rely on local party mates to carry them in the local level, which is the municipal and barangay areas. Thus the nationals will have to give campaign money to the locals so they could be carried in the countryside.

 In the dog eat dog, sink or swim, every man for himself atmosphere of the Philippine politics, each politician will look after his own survival before others. The weaker locals will solely use acquired funds to ensure their elections while paying lip service to their benefactors. The stronger ones may allocate a portion of their amassed fund for their patrons. National and provincial candidates will have to keep the good graces of the locals. They have to keep smiling while the locals extract their pound of flesh.

 After the elections the shoe will be on the other foot. This time the locals will go hat in hand to the nationals and provincials for funds for their favorite projects. The nationals will oblige only after their cut is assured. Projects will be started or awarded to contractors after the locals have their SOP. The voters will see projects but most of them will be substandard.

 Since in the Philippine political set up, it is the politician that holds the carrot, voters must accede to the whims of the former. The voters do not know that they are the ones who pay for the carrot. In the Philippines, people go into politics to break into big money, while big money enters politics to keep their riches.  On western democracies, the political climate is different.

 In the United States, there are only two political parties the Republicans and the Democrats. Each has their political ideology so fence jumping is almost impossible. To elect a politician, party nomination must be secured. Any presidential candidate must have the party nomination of his party in all the States, hence the primaries. The Democrats and Republicans must conduct statewide primaries to determine their presidential candidates. Presidential election follows.

 In European democracies with parliamentary governments, there are many political parties. Like in the States each party has its own political ideology. Parties elect Members of Parliaments and the MPs elect a Prime Minister by two thirds votes. This goes to show that progressive democracies are run by political parties. These parties, which are run by voters, choose their candidates. In the Philippines, politicians form political parties not the voters. Or they are the ones who choose their parties. No wonder we are going to the dogs. 

Arroyo Most Unpopular President?

Editorial, Sunday Post

      Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's refusal to reveal her plans in the 2010 elections is disconcerting, to put it mildly. This lead many people to suspect that something is cooking in the kitchen of the country's most unpopular President.

      The President's spokespersons say she has a right to her silence. Well, yes and no. It is true that silence is a right that any person can enjoy. No because the President is not just any other person.

      Her clear, unequivocal declaration on her 2010 plans is needed to calm fears stoked by her running dogs in Congress. Pained, betrayed and left holding the proverbial empty bag far too often, the last thing that we need is more of her.

      It could be that she is well aware of the fact that most Filipinos no longer trust her word. This is the reason why she would rather not make a categorical declaration since it would be taken with a grain of salt anyway.

      Or perhaps she has learned her lessons after being reminded again and again of how she broke her promise before a gathering to honor the national hero. If she makes no categorical declaration, there would be no promise to break.

      Regardless of her reasons however, the point is that Filipinos deserve to plan Weighed down by the difficulties brought about by the international economic meltdown and scandalized by the politics of payoffs and tradeoffs of the Arroyo administration, there is little doubt that they need a break.

      With the next election just a corner away, it all boils now to who deserves what. If Pres. Arroyo deserves her silence, the Filipinos also deserve their peace of mind. Insisting on what she believes is due her while disregarding what the rest of the nation deserves even more is the height of selfishness.

      The strange thing about this is that the President's habit seems to have infected her fellow conspirators in the monumental plunder of the country's coffers far more than the feared influenza A(H1N1) virus.

      While their mouths are shut, their body language betrays their intention to hold on to power. They don't have any qualms about insulting the intellect of the people perhaps because this has become the rule in their scheme of things.

      The best that Filipinos can say about Pres. Arroyo is that she has been the longest staying president after Pres. Ferdinand Marcos. His lengthy stay did not augur well with Filipinos. There is little indication it will augur well with her.

      If GMA failed to uplift the lives of Filipinos in her eight years as president, she won't be able to do that as prime minister. Eight years is too short for a good head of state. A good one she is not.

Philippine DILG Donation to Dependents and Survivors

GRATITUDE from the government for services rendered came to 19 dependents and survivors of barangay officials who died in the performance of their duties.

  Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno himself, assisted by Bohol provincial director Rustica Mascarinas handed checks worth P12,000 each to dependents and survivors of barangay officials in simple ceremonies at the Legaspi Suite of the Bohol Tropics Resort last week.

  During the turn-over of the financial assistance checks, Sec. Puno reiterated that the "small contribution from the government [is] in recognition for the public service rendered by [your] loved ones".

  "Take this as acknowledgment from the government", he said.

  "While this may be not enough to heal the wound left by your departed loved ones who worked in government, take it as the government's expression of gratitude", he said in Filipino.

  A recipient who asked not be named said she would like to thank the government because the assistance goes a long way in helping the family cope with a lost husband and the hard times.

  The government has set aside a fund for the payment of death benefits of barangay officials who died during the term of office, one aptly called Barangay Officials Death Benefits Fund.

  The fund, managed by the Department of Budget and Management for payment of death benefits of Barangay Officials such as the Punong Barangay, Seven Barangay Kagawads, SK President as Ex-officio Barangay Kagawad, Secretary and Treasurer who died in their term of office.

  The funds are released to and administered by the DILG in accordance with its rules and regulations.

  Secretary Puno came to Bohol Friday to witness the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the government of the Philippines through Bohol Governor Erico Aumentado and Canadian International Development Agency for project assistance in Local Government Support Project Local Economic Development.

  While here, Puno also met the entire DILG family as well as attended the joint conferences of the key councils and leagues in Bohol. (PIA)

Manny Pacquiao as Philippine Senator?

"Manny Pacquiao will be my senator in the 2016 elections," declared Tagbilaran Mayor Dan Lim. 

    Lim issued the statement after spending time with the Filipino pound-for-pound great last week. 

    The mayor said that Pacquiao has all the qualities of a leader that he is looking for. 

    "He is dedicated, humble, determined and sincere," Lim said. 

    The mayor said he wants Pacquiao to run in the 2013 senatorial derby but he can wait for 2016 if the National Fist desires to serve for another term as congressman. 

    Lim declared that if only Pacquiao were qualified, he would top the senatorial race hands down next year. 

    The only hitch is that the 30-year-old Pacquiao will still be ineligible. 

    Going by the same logic, Lim said that if only Pacquiao were eligible in the 2016 polls, he would make a good presidential candidate. 

    Lim brushed aside doubts about the boxer's ability and fitness for the position. 

    "I don't think anybody would doubt his dedication, his humility, his determination and his sincerity," the mayor added. 

    He anticipated that the only weak spot in Pacquiao's credentials would be his educational qualifications. 

    Lim however argued that the world's 6th richest athlete is pursuing his Business Administration degree at Notre Dame University at present and is expected to graduate in 2011. 

    The mayor revealed that Pacquiao has plans to take up Law after finishing his baccalaureate degree. 

    "I have no doubts that he will not only become a lawyer but a good one when the time comes," Lim, himself a mayor, declared. 

    The mayor said that Pacquiao gives the same dedication and commitment to his studies as he does to his boxing training. 

    Lim also noted that the holder of a record six world crowns in different weights has a sharp mind contrary to the beliefs of many who look down on him. 

    "His native intelligence will make him catch up with the lost years in school," he added. 

    The mayor said he is impressed with Pacquiao's sincerity and humility in spite of the successes he has achieved. 

    Lim also took note that the most popular Filipino athlete adopts the same determination to anything he does. 

    "Another thing, Pacquiao has the heart that few people have," he added. 

    Lim said Pacquiao himself pointed out that while there are many good boxers, he beat them all because he has the heart of a champion who is not afraid to get hit to get the job done. 

    "Above anything else, he has the humility to give God the credit for all the good things he has in life," the mayor noted. 

    Lim said that regardless of what other people say, Pacquiao always insists he is where he now because of God's provisions. 

    "God loves to bless people who give Him the glory," the mayor concluded. 

DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno as Vice-President?

      DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno holds the ground that way to shape an edge over the other aspirants for a nomination to the vice-presidential slot in the administration slate.

      Building track record of pacing presidential candidates to sure seats, Puno's cross-camp alliances seemed to have smoothened the red carpet to his vice-presidency ambition that confirms an election to look forward to in 2010, contrary to speculations from the opposition side.

      Though Puno hinted his edge through generations of partnership with the Macapagals and the Ejercitos and even a successful campaign strategy that sent Fidel Ramos to presidency in 1992, he said he would respect whoever the Lakas-Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-Kampi-CMD) would push for the vice-presidential race.

      Bur if chosen as vice-presidential bet of Lakas-Kampi-CMD, Puno said he would set the example by shunning character-attack type of campaign and focus, instead, on tackling issues and finding better venues to effectively deliver his message to the people.

      It would be his first time to aspire for a national elective post, but Puno already knows the ropes in a nationwide campaign trails as he had been behind the successful campaigns of President Fidel Ramos in 1992, Joseph Estrada in 1998 and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2004.

      Puno also won in the May 2004 elections as representative of the first district of Antipolo.

      In February 2006, Puno reluctantly left his post as congressman when President Arroyo asked him to become the secretary of DILG for the second time. The first time was in 1999 during the term of President Estrada.

      Puno interacted with the local media last Friday at the Bohol Tropics after the joint meeting of the Peace and Order Council, Provincial Development Council, Provincial Board, League of Municipalities of the Philippines-Bohol chapter, Vice Mayors League of the Philippines-Bohol chapter, and Liga ng mga Barangay.

      He also witnessed during the meeting, the signing of the memorandum of agreement on the Local Governance Support Program for Local Economic Development between the provincial government of Bohol and the Canadian International Development Agency.

      When asked on his real ally as the three Philippine presidents he had helped to their thrones have difficulty agreeing among themselves, Puno traced three generations of family ties with the Macapagals, saying his grandfather served as the family doctor of the Macapagals when the late president Diosdado- -the President's father- -was still a young boy. Then, his father became a confidant of the late president and was even appointed to the judiciary when Macapagal became president.

      And, the First Gentleman was his classmate in college.

      On the other hand, he said he started working closely with Estrada when the former president was still mayor of San Juan and he was with the DILG.

      He had also served as consultant of Micron Public Affairs and president of Micrfon Overseas Marketing before returning to the DILG in July 1998 under the administration of Estrada and later became undersecretary until 1999 and chairperson of various attached agencies of the department as Estrada's representative, who was then DILG secretary in a concurrent capacity.

      In April 1999, Estrada named him secretary of DILG and stayed in the post until January 2000.

      Also during the press conference, Puno reiterated his stand on the futility of pursuing Constitutional amendment before the 2010 elections.

      He said that the House of Representative's approval of a measure to convene a Constituent Assembly (Con-Ass) is merely being pursued to seek a clarification on how such a method could be legally and properly carried out, citing the Constitution as ambiguous when it comes to implementing this mode of amending the Charter.

      According to Puno, pro-administration members of the House of Representatives, which include 45 members of the erstwhile Kampi, had earlier made it clear with President Arroyo even with the Con-Ass move, they never meant to spoil her declaration on the assurance of elections in 2010.

      "Mark my words and trust me, there will be elections in 2010 in accordance with the Constitution and our existing laws," Puno said.

      He said ongoing moves to amend the Constitution in Congress will have no impact at all on the 2010 elections as there is simply no time left to go through all the processes needed to push through with a constituent assembly.

      Describing claims of a "No-El" scenario as "frivolous", Puno advised the opposition to stop wasting stirring media hype on this impossible situation.

      Moreover, he noted that the Philippines would completely lose its credibility before the international community if it flip-flops on the holding of elections next year.

      No less than President Arroyo herself already assured the public that there will be elections in 2010 during the May 28 ceremonies at the Manila Hotel, which officially sealed the merger of Lakas-CMD and Kampi into the powerhouse political party that the disintegrated opposition camp has to face in next year's balloting.

      Puno, who is now co-vice chairperson of Lakas-Kampi-CMD, expressed optimism that the national and local candidates of Lakas-Kampi-CMD will sweep the May 2010 elections and steer the country to continued economic growth into the next decade.

      Puno had served as president, and, later, chairperson of Kampi prior to its merger with Lakas-CMD.

      With pride to take on how his thrust on self-reliance of local government units, through decentralization and devolution, has changed the rural areas into promising economic zones, Puno congratulated the LGUs for having gone far enough in utilizing the capacity-building activities in the past. - Sunday Post